Modular drive arrangement for adjustable beds and the like
First Claim
1. In an adjustable bed of the type having a frame, and a controller shaft that is rotated to manipulate an adjustable portion of said bed, the improvement of a modular drive arrangement, comprising:
- a motor drive unit, having first and second ends, with an output shaft protruding from the first end of said motor drive unit;
a first coupling member located on the controller shaft of said bed;
a second coupling member located on the output shaft of said motor drive unit, and shaped to mate with said first coupling member to releasably and selectively interconnect the output shaft of said motor drive unit with the controller shaft of said bed and transmit rotary motion therebetween;
means for preventing relative rotation between said motor drive unit and said bed frame during adjustment of said bed;
a first, quick-disconnect latch member located on said bed frame;
a second, quick-disconnect latch member located on the second end of said motor drive unit, and shaped to mate with said first quick-disconnect latch member to selectively support said motor drive unit on said bed frame;
a manual crank unit, having first and second ends, with a handle protruding from the second end of said manual crank unit;
a third coupling member located on the first end of said manual crank unit, and shaped to mate with said first coupling member to releasably interconnect said manual crank unit with the controller shaft of said bed and transmit rotary motion therebetween;
a bearing located on the second end of said manual crank unit, and having a third quick-disconnect latch member thereon which mates with said first quick-disconnect latch member to selectively and rotatably support said manual crank unit on said bed frame, whereby even relatively unskilled personnel without tools can remove said motor drive unit from said bed for off-site repair, and replace the same with said manual crank unit to insure uninterrupted operation of said bed, without disturbing the patient.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A modular drive arrangement for adjustable beds, and the like, comprises interchangeable motor drive units, and manual crank units. The motor drive units have an output shaft at one end, with a coupling that releasably connects with the controller shafts of the bed to manipulate the adjustable sections of the bed. A first, quick-disconnect latch member is located on the bed frame, and mates with a second, quick-disconnect latch member on the opposite end of each motor drive unit to support the motor drive units on the bed frame. The manual crank units have a coupling at one end, which releasably connects with the controller shafts to rotate the same. The opposite end of each manual crank unit includes a bearing, with a third, quick-disconnect latch member thereon, which also mates with the first quick-disconnect latch member to support the manual crank units on the bed frame, whereby even relatively unskilled personnel, without tools, can remove a motor drive unit from the bed for off-site repair, and replace the same with a manual crank unit to insure uninterrupted operation of the bed, without disturbing the patient.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. In an adjustable bed of the type having a frame, and a controller shaft that is rotated to manipulate an adjustable portion of said bed, the improvement of a modular drive arrangement, comprising:
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a motor drive unit, having first and second ends, with an output shaft protruding from the first end of said motor drive unit; a first coupling member located on the controller shaft of said bed; a second coupling member located on the output shaft of said motor drive unit, and shaped to mate with said first coupling member to releasably and selectively interconnect the output shaft of said motor drive unit with the controller shaft of said bed and transmit rotary motion therebetween; means for preventing relative rotation between said motor drive unit and said bed frame during adjustment of said bed; a first, quick-disconnect latch member located on said bed frame; a second, quick-disconnect latch member located on the second end of said motor drive unit, and shaped to mate with said first quick-disconnect latch member to selectively support said motor drive unit on said bed frame; a manual crank unit, having first and second ends, with a handle protruding from the second end of said manual crank unit; a third coupling member located on the first end of said manual crank unit, and shaped to mate with said first coupling member to releasably interconnect said manual crank unit with the controller shaft of said bed and transmit rotary motion therebetween; a bearing located on the second end of said manual crank unit, and having a third quick-disconnect latch member thereon which mates with said first quick-disconnect latch member to selectively and rotatably support said manual crank unit on said bed frame, whereby even relatively unskilled personnel without tools can remove said motor drive unit from said bed for off-site repair, and replace the same with said manual crank unit to insure uninterrupted operation of said bed, without disturbing the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A modular drive arrangement for adjustable beds of the type having a frame, and a controller shaft that is rotated to manipulate an adjustable portion of the bed, said drive arrangement comprising:
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a motor drive unit, having first and second ends, with an output shaft protruding from the first end of said motor drive unit; a first coupling member adapted for connection with the controller shaft of the bed; a second coupler member located on the output shaft of said motor drive unit, and shaped to mate with said first coupling member to releasably and selectively interconnect the output shaft of said motor drive unit with the controller shaft of the bed and transmit rotary motion therebetween; means for preventing relative rotation between said motor drive unit and the bed frame during adjustment of the bed; a first, quick-disconnect latch member adapted for connection with said bed frame; a second, quick-disconnect latch member located on the second end of said motor drive unit, and shaped to mate with said first quick-disconnect latch member to selectively support said motor drive unit on the bed frame; a manual crank unit, having first and second ends, with a handle protruding from the second end of said manual crank unit; a third coupling member located on the first end of said manual crank unit, and shaped to mate with said first coupling member to releasably interconnect said manual crank unit with the controller shaft of the bed and transmit rotary motion therebetween; a bearing located on the second end of said manual crank unit, and having a third quick-disconnect latch member thereon, which mates with said first quick-disconnect latch member to selectively and rotatably support said manual crank unit on the bed frame, whereby even relatively unskilled personnel without tools can remove said motor drive unit from the bed for off-site repair, and replace the same with said manual crank unit to insure uninterrupted operation of the bed, without disturbing the patient.
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35. In an adjustable bed of the type having a frame, a controller shaft that is rotated to manipulate an adjustable portion of said bed, and a drive unit to rotate said controller shaft, the improvement of a quick-disconnect mounting arrangement for said drive unit, comprising:
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a coupling connected with one end of said drive unit, and having a socket in which said controller shaft is closely received, thereby supporting the one end of said drive unit on said bed frame;
said coupling and said controller shaft including a key arrangement which rotatably interconnects the one end of said drive unit with said controller shaft to transmit rotary motion therebetween;a quick-disconnect latch releasably connecting the opposite end of said drive unit with a foot portion of said bed frame;
said latch comprising;an aperture extending through a vertical wall portion of said frame foot portion, and including at least one radially oriented slot; at least one pair of laterally spaced apart stops protruding outwardly from an exterior side of the vertical wall portion of said frame foot section, and positioned a spaced apart, angular measure from said slot; a lock bushing rotatably mounted on the opposite end of said drive unit, and including a cylindrically-shaped body with at least one ear protruding radially outwardly therefrom;
said ear being shaped for longitudinal insertion into said slot, and having a radially extending notch, which has a width slightly greater than the thickness of the vertical wall portion of said frame foot section, and divides said ear into forward and rearward halves, whereby to lock said drive unit on said bed frame, said lock bushing is rotated until the forward half of said lock bushing ear is positioned between said stops to define a snap lock which can be easily operated by even relatively unskilled personnel without tools to remove and replace said drive unit.
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Specification